Tanjungbalai Mayor, M Syahrial, Bribery Ex-KPK Investigator Stepanus 'Case Broker' Will Soon Be Tried

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has handed over the suspect inactive Tanjungbalai Mayor, M Syahrial, along with evidence to the public prosecutor today.

The handover is carried out after the file for the alleged bribery case that has been entrenched is completed and declared complete.

"The case file in question was declared complete after the public prosecutor's team examined both the completeness of the material and formal requirements", said KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, to reporters, Tuesday, June 22.

After the files and suspects have been submitted, the detention will then become the authority of the public prosecutor's team for the next 20 days, starting from June 22 to July 11 at the KPK Detention Center Lot C1.

"Within 14 working days, the case files will be transferred to the Tipikor District Court", said Ali.

As previously reported, the KPK has named Stepanus Robin Pattuju as the investigator, a lawyer named Maskur Husain, and the Mayor of Tanjungbalai M. Syahrial as suspects in the alleged bribery case handling the sale and purchase of positions at the Tanjungbalai City Government.

Stepanus Robin Pattuju and Maskur Husain are suspected of having received bribes from M. Syahrial for IDR 1.3 billion from an agreement of IDR 1.5 billion. The bribe was given so that Stepanus would help stop the investigation into the alleged sale and purchase of positions in Tanjungbalai, which the KPK is currently investigating.

In addition to bribes from Syahrial, Maskur Husain is also suspected of receiving IDR 200 million from other parties. Meanwhile, Stepanus from October 2020 to April 2021 was also suspected of receiving money from other parties through bank account transfers in the name of Riefka Amalia, amounting to IDR 438 million.

This case also dragged the name of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Azis Syamsuddin. He is said to have facilitated the introduction of Syahrial and Stepanus at his official residence.

As for Azis, he knew Stepanus, allegedly because of his aide. The KPK said that the Golkar Party politician's aide came from the same institution as Stepanus, namely the Bhayangkara Corps.